Shortly after his fourth trip to the Final Four in 2022, Jay Wright announced his retirement and unknowingly thrust Villanova into an era of uncertainty. His former assistant Kyle Neptune, then head coach at Fordham, returned to town but had three very disappointing and underwhelming seasons, failing to even lead the Wildcats back to the NCAA Tournament in any capacity.
Villanova was a dominant force in the new Big East for nearly an entire decade and they’re hoping that hiring Kevin Willard marches in another era of prosperity. Willard was a first-hand witness to a ton of that success while he himself was making waves leading Seton Hall, with the Pirates making several postseason appearances in Villanova’s shadow. Willard did great work these last three years at Maryland, getting the Terrapins to the Sweet Sixteen this March.
A coach with a better pedigree is only the first step. In this NIL era, the transfer portal allows new coaches like Willard to build their programs much quicker than in the past, meaning he and his staff have had their work cut out for them these last few months. We knew Willard was headed to the Wildcats perhaps even before Maryland’s Tourney run had ended and we’re seeing some of the fruits of his labors.
Only time will tell how this hire works and if Willard’s arrival pays out in the long run, but it’s easy to be underwhelmed to this point. Villanova’s incoming transfer class isn’t exactly highly ranked though they do add some intriguing talent. The Wildcats got a talented veteran point guard in Devin Askew from Long Beach State and also nabbed Bryce Lindsay from James Madison. A few faces, including Malachi Palmer, follow Willard from Maryland while Tyler Perkins will return for another season with the Wildcats.
After Eric Dixon was one of the nation’s top scorers last season, Villanova has done whatever possible to replace his production. New pieces in the frontcourt include 7-footer Braden Pierce (following Willard from Maryland), along with Duke Brennan, a big man from Grand Canyon who’s the highlight of the transfer class.
In recent years we’ve seen programs like Kentucky and Louisville rebuild quickly with a slew of incoming transfers, but a highly-touted class isn’t a necessity. The Wildcats didn’t land any pieces that made headline news though they’ll put together a solid lineup that’ll hopefully do a bit more damage than Neptune’s teams in recent years. This all boils down to Willard’s lineup construction and the talent he brings to town in the coming months and years.
Willard knows how to win games in the Big East and could be exactly what Villanova needs to get back into the national spotlight, but it’s not a quick fix. There’s no question that UConn has filled that gap left behind by the Wildcats while programs like Creighton, Marquette, and St. John’s have all become major names in this sport. With only minor additions, can we really expect that big step forward in Willard’s first campaign?